By Alan Sorensen
Hi-Line Christian Church, A Church for All People, is moving to its first permanent location in Havre this weekend.
The congregation of Pastor Vernon S. Brown, Sr., which has met in the Bears Paw Room at the Townhouse Inns in Havre since Nov. 1 of last year, will meet for the first time at 11 a.m. this Sunday at its new home, the old Havre Bicycle Center building.
Weve got a new church building that were going to be in for a few years, Pastor Vern Brown said. Our first permanent location.
Brown said that work on the interior of the church at 108 First St. is ongoing.
Were hoping to have it completely renovated by Nov. 7, which is the first anniversary of our church, Brown said.
Brown expects that the new location will help the congregation grow.
Right now, were still pretty small, about 20, said Browns wife, Mary. Were looking for growth here, a little more visibility.
Converting the building from a bike shop into a church is something of a joint venture between owner, Rod Rick, and his employees, and church members. A Hi-Line Glass employee was busy putting down a floor Wednesday afternoon.
We built all the walls in here, Mary Brown said. Well be doing a lot more of the work, too.
The move is a bit ironic, since the Havre Bicycle Center moved into the old Christian Science Church on Fifth Avenue and the Hi-Line Christian Church moved into the old bicycle shop.
We really never considered that location, Mary Brown said, pointing west up U.S. Highway 2 from the doorway of her new church. We are the Hi-Line Christian Church.
Pastor Brown is a Choteau native, former member of the U.S. Air Force, and graduate of Portland Bible College in Portland, Ore.
For more information, call the parsonage/church office at 262-2290.
